performance notes

Dear Marion
how many times
has she clipped on
those cheap plastic
rhinestone earrings
when we were on our way
to some event or other
just last week
I saw the same ones
at a yard sale
"Estate Sale"
the sign said
some folks not much older
than us
gone now
their kids have no use
for such things
just like our kids won't
when we're gone
they're so far away
Jimmy in Canada
Wally in California
our twins down
in South Carolina
trying their luck
at the remodeling business
they won't want
any of our stuff
after we're dead
jeez I hate this shirt
I've been wearing it
for thirty years now
the collar's too tight
and forget my good shoes
Marion giving me hell
for putting on these loafers
I just couldn't tell her
I couldn't have tied those laces
even if I could've gotten on
those damned brown wingtips
my back's so stiff these days
and my feet so swollen
soon all I'll be able to wear
are my bedroom slippers
I guess I should be taking
those water pills the Doc's
been pushing on me
God I hope I die before she does
what would I do
without her
how could I sell
"those" earrings
she'd come back from the grave
to haunt me
look at old Harry over there
he's got his hair dyed yellow
looks like some damned surfer boy
Harry never had yellow hair before
the rest of these people
here today
won't be anywhere ten years
from now I bet
I haven't seen so many
old grey heads
since the last time
I was in church
when was that
last Christmas?
no last year we were
out at Wally's
that's one trip
I won't be making again
Shit I hate those
airline people
they act like you should know
everything
if I did
then why would I ask them?
I hope the intermission's
soon
these hemorrhoids
are killing me
I wonder if Marion
is enjoying herself
truth is
I really can't hear
anything
even with this new
hearing aid
when did
her cheeks get fuzzy
like that?
I can remember
when we met
she was so pink
so smooth
so perfect
now she's...well...
peachy
guess I shouldn't
have eaten that chili
for lunch today
I hope this piece
will be over soon
I gotta hit the can
maybe I should call
Ol' Doc Robinson
and talk to him again
about that...
that prostate surgery
I'm not getting
any younger
and I've got no
sex life
to screw up
anyways
unless
you count
helping Marion
unzip
her red dress
when we
get home
tonight